Saturday, May 20, 2006
Wants Straight A's
Dear Guidance Guy,
I am usually a good student who gets straight A's every quarter. This year though I have had the hardest time getting straight A's. And when it comes down to it, it always happens in math. I am a good math student. In fact, my whole life I have never gotten a B on my report card for math, that is until this year.
I currently have Geometry Gate and everyday I study hard. I do my homework, review my notes, and the day before the test I spend my whole day studying and I wake up at 4 A.M. to study again. When I study and do the practice problems, I always get all of them right, but when it comes to the test, I always get a B even though I am a good test taker.
My parents always say to study a few days in advance before a test but I always find out the day before the test along with the rest of my class. Please help.
Thanks,
Wanting Straight A's
*****
Dear Wanting,
A few things jumped out at me about your letter. First, there isn't a teacher in the world who wants their students waking up at 4 A.M. to study (at least not a normal teacher). Your whole letter looks like a lot of pressure you're putting on yourself. It must not be a lot of fun for you.
It's cool that you got A's in math your whole life. You were probably taking Algebra and Pre-Algebra before this year. Geometry is a whole different thing. You're using different skills than what you learned before. This may just not be your strongest area. So don't beat yourself up because it's not coming to you as easily as before. It's common for people to do well in Algebra and not as well in Geometry.
The one thing I don't see in your letter is asking the teacher for advice on how to study. This could be something very simple that you're missing. It could be just one concept that brings you down to B's. Or it could be the way you're taking notes. I don't know what it is, and you sure don't know what it is. But I bet your teacher could figure it out easily. Take a few minutes after your next test and go over it with him or her. If you are motivated (and you obviously are) I bet it will be easy to fix.
Keep up the good work. People who work hard get far in life. But people who work smart - and ask for help when they need it - get the farthest.
Best of Luck,
The Guidance Guy
I am usually a good student who gets straight A's every quarter. This year though I have had the hardest time getting straight A's. And when it comes down to it, it always happens in math. I am a good math student. In fact, my whole life I have never gotten a B on my report card for math, that is until this year.
I currently have Geometry Gate and everyday I study hard. I do my homework, review my notes, and the day before the test I spend my whole day studying and I wake up at 4 A.M. to study again. When I study and do the practice problems, I always get all of them right, but when it comes to the test, I always get a B even though I am a good test taker.
My parents always say to study a few days in advance before a test but I always find out the day before the test along with the rest of my class. Please help.
Thanks,
Wanting Straight A's
*****
Dear Wanting,
A few things jumped out at me about your letter. First, there isn't a teacher in the world who wants their students waking up at 4 A.M. to study (at least not a normal teacher). Your whole letter looks like a lot of pressure you're putting on yourself. It must not be a lot of fun for you.
It's cool that you got A's in math your whole life. You were probably taking Algebra and Pre-Algebra before this year. Geometry is a whole different thing. You're using different skills than what you learned before. This may just not be your strongest area. So don't beat yourself up because it's not coming to you as easily as before. It's common for people to do well in Algebra and not as well in Geometry.
The one thing I don't see in your letter is asking the teacher for advice on how to study. This could be something very simple that you're missing. It could be just one concept that brings you down to B's. Or it could be the way you're taking notes. I don't know what it is, and you sure don't know what it is. But I bet your teacher could figure it out easily. Take a few minutes after your next test and go over it with him or her. If you are motivated (and you obviously are) I bet it will be easy to fix.
Keep up the good work. People who work hard get far in life. But people who work smart - and ask for help when they need it - get the farthest.
Best of Luck,
The Guidance Guy
